Volume 9, Issue 5│February 7, 2025

Bill Status of HB2676: Health Care Provider Workforce Act

This week, legislation was introduced into the IL House of Representatives which would add optometrists to the list of eligible healthcare providers for a loan repayment and scholarship program aimed to help medically underserved areas in the state.

The Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program (UHCPW) is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to address healthcare disparities by recruiting qualified providers to serve in designated shortage areas across Illinois.

Funds are used to repay educational loans of eligible health care providers in exchange for full-time or half-time service in shortage areas.



Recipient Requirements for Loan Repayment:

• Hold a valid Illinois license to practice.
• Have educational debt from a governmental or commercial lending institution.
• Practice at a qualifying medical facility in a designated shortage area, including optometric offices.
• Accept specified forms of payment, have no federal debt judgment liens, and not be excluded by a federal agency.
• Sign a written agreement committing to loan repayment and service.
• Be a U.S. citizen or national and not currently enrolled in other loan repayment programs

Currently the program is only open to medical & chiropractic students. More information about the current program can be found here.

Third Party Committee Update: 2025 Medicare Allowables Now Available

The IOA Third Party Committee has updated the list of 2025 Medicare allowables for Illinois, available for download below. They can be downloaded in Microsoft Excel or Adobe PDF format. For a list of localities and the counties included, please reference the chart below.

Medicare Allowables:

Locality 12 - Excel or PDF

Locality 15 - Excel or PDF

Locality 16 - Excel or PDF

Locality 99 - Excel or PDF

Locality & County Information

12: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington

15: DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will

16: Cook

99: All other counties

2025 Winter CE Series

There is still time to register for Winter CE! Please note: All registrations received after Wednesday, February 19 are considered on-site and will incur a $25 on-site registration fee.

All courses are 6 hours TQ (test included in registration). Courses run from 9am - 4pm CT.

February 23, 2025

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago-Alsip // Alsip, IL

Speaker: Chris Borgman, OD

Course: "Unlocking Diagnostic Challenges: A Journey Through Vision Loss, Retinal Brainteasers, Pituitary Insights, and OCT Rounds"

March 2, 2025

Location: Westin Chicago North Shore // Wheeling, IL

Speaker: Mile Brujic, OD

Course: "Anterior Segment Assault: Updates and New Strategies for Patient Management"

Continuing Education Requirements for the 2024-2026 Renewal

30 hours are required for renewal:

• 12 hours must be tested (TQ or CEE)
• 18 hours must be regular CE:
• Of which, no more than 4 hours can be practice management
• All 18 hours may be completed online through live, real-time presentations or by pre-recorded video provided by an approved CE sponsor

Required courses: (Count as regular hours of CE)

• 1 hour of sexual harassment CE
• 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training
• 1 hour of training on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias must be taken by all licensed optometrists who provide services to adult populations age 26 and older at each renewal.

All required courses may count towards your 18 hours of regular CE.

EFFECTIVE 1/1/2025:

• 1 hour of cultural competency training
• 1 hour of safe opioid prescribing CE must be taken by all optometrists who hold a Controlled Substance license in order to renew the license. The requirement was previously 3 hours of CE.

First-time renewal applicants must complete all required courses, which includes sexual harassment training, implicit bias training, dementia training, cultural competency training, and safe opioid prescribing if the licensee holds a controlled substance license. First time renewals are exempt from all other CE requirements.

CPR no longer counts as CE credit.

Please note, these requirements may change before the 2026 renewal.

The IOA will publish any changes to CE requirements in InSight, the IOA Journal, and through email communications.

Fox Valley Optometric Society held CE this week on "Refractive Surgery Updates & Keratoconus Scleral Fits." Speakers were Neel Vaidya, MD, and IOA members Marsha Malooley, OD & Tiffany Andrzejewski, OD. Thank you to all who attended!

MEMBER BENEFIT: Have a Billing and Coding Question?

Submit it to the experts at OBC Insurance Billing Specialists! Click here to submit your questions.

2/23- IOA Winter CE Series | Alsip

3/2- IOA Winter CE Series | Wheeling

Report Vision Plan Abuses to the IOA



The IOA recognizes that Vision Care Plan Regulation Act constitutes a significant stride forward for optometry. However, it doesn't signal the conclusion of our efforts to champion fair contracting with vision plans. In the next few years, our members will be renewing and amending their contracts to reflect the changes in the new law. Throughout this process, we will gain valuable insight directly from our members regarding instances of vision plan abuses.

If you encounter vision plan abuses, we ask that you fill out the form below to report abuse. The IOA will collect this information to prevent further vision plan abuses on behalf of our members.

Now Available in AOA EyeLearn: Navigating financial wellness as an OD - Strategies to build a secure financial future

Building financial wellness is crucial for long-term stability. AOAExcel invites you to view a unique workshop tailored specifically to ODs, where our panel of experts share strategies on optimizing your retirement plan, choosing the right loan repayment options, and protecting your income with the right insurance coverage. Whether you're just starting out or looking to boost your financial health, this session offers valuable insights and actionable steps.

In this workshop, you will learn how to:

·       Leverage retirement plans to maximize your contributions and reduce your current tax burden

·       Identify the best student loan repayment strategies to align with your financial goals

·       Uncover proven strategies to protect your income and career

·       Provide financial protection to your beneficiaries

·       Discover free benefits available to AOA members

AOA members have access to this recorded workshop through the AOA’s EyeLearn Professional Development Hub.

Featuring experts from AOAExcel’s endorsed business partners, Laurel Road, GradFin, Equitable Financial, and AGIA Affinity. 

The Case for Expanding Scope of Optometry

AOA | By Steven T. Reed, O.D.

January 28, 2025

In recent years, the field of optometry has undergone significant changes, driven by advances in technology, growing patient demand and an evolving health care landscape. As optometrists, we stand at a pivotal juncture where expanding our scope of practice is not only beneficial but also essential for our profession’s future. The time has come for us to fully embrace this evolution. 

Filling the gap 

The demand for accessible eye care services is on the rise, fueled by an aging population and a stagnant supply of providers. As the number of patients seeking care grows, so does the need for optometrists to fill the gap in health care delivery. By expanding our scope to practice as we are taught, we can ensure that patients receive timely treatments, improving their quality of life. Public health demands that we step up. 

Providing enhanced care 

The rapid advancement of technology in eye care presents another compelling reason for expanding our scope. New diagnostic tools and treatment modalities offer unprecedented opportunities for optometrists to enhance our services. By incorporating these innovations into our practice, we can improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline patient management and provide more personalized care. Embracing these technologies also positions us as forward-thinking practitioners who are committed to continuous improvement and adaptation. 

Growing dynamic care teams 

Another substantial benefit of scope expansion is the opportunity it creates for staff growth and development. As optometrists take on more advanced procedures, there is a corresponding need for well-trained support staff. This allows existing employees to enhance their skills through specialized training and education programs, such as the AOA’s paraoptometric certification program, which not only bolsters their knowledge but also enhances the overall quality of care provided by the practice. This allows optometrists to delegate more responsibilities to our staff, enabling team members to take on more significant roles within the practice. This delegation fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment among staff, leading to improved job satisfaction and retention. A well-trained team is invaluable, as it allows optometrists to focus on complex cases while ensuring that routine tasks are handled efficiently. 

Optometry’s critical role 

As we expand our scope, we also strengthen our professional identity. Optometry has long been undervalued compared to other health care professions, often leading to misconceptions about the role we play in patient care. By advocating for expanded practice, we can demonstrate our expertise and the critical role we play in the health care system. This not only elevates the profession but also fosters greater collaboration with other health care providers, ultimately benefiting our patients. 

The future of optometry lies in our ability to adapt and expand our scope of practice. By enhancing patient care, meeting growing demand, equipping our staff, embracing technological advancements and strengthening our professional identity, we can secure a more prominent role in the health care landscape. As optometrists, we have a responsibility to advocate for the expansion of our scope—not just for our profession, but for the well-being of our patients and communities. Let us unite in this endeavor and shape the future of optometry together. 

Learn about the AOA’s support of state advocacy.  

InfantSEE Nominations for the Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. Award Deadline is Approaching

InfantSEE®, a program that provides no-cost, comprehensive eye and vision health assessments for infants, concludes the year with 172,000 assessments since the initiative’s inception in 2005.

Call for Nominations for Dr. W. David Sullins Jr. Award

• The Dr. W. David Sullins, Jr. InfantSEE Award recognizes an individual doctor of optometry who has made significant contributions to optometry or their community for outstanding public service involving the InfantSEE program. Nominate a deserving colleague by Feb. 10, 2025.
• Our challenge is for every state advocate to nominate at least one doctor! We know how many passionate and deserving InfantSEE providers are out there. Please help us recognize them.

New, FREE InfantSEE public awareness materials

• Earlier this year, InfantSEE refreshed our public awareness materials (i.e. brochure, calling card, poster, etc.). Order materials to share with your patients or a local community organization. Materials and shipping are free for InfantSEE providers and nonprofit organizations.
• Please share these materials with any local community organizations/hospitals/doctors’ offices that you work with or that you think could benefit from more information on the InfantSEE program.

Participation and Support

Participating InfantSEE optometrists provide no-cost eye and vision assessments regardless of income or insurance coverage. The AOA Foundation thanks all participating doctors for their dedication to the program and the life-changing care they provide every day.

To learn more about becoming an InfantSEE provider, click here.

The AOA Foundation is committed to raising awareness about the importance of eye health, increasing access to vision care, and providing support to doctors of optometry and students in need. To support InfantSEE and other initiatives, consider making an end-of-year tax-deductible donation.  

Mental Health Issues, Other Barriers Drive Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Nonattendance

Healio | By Cassandra Jenkins fact checked by Heather Biele

February 2, 2025

Mental health issues, lack of awareness, transportation difficulties and other factors contributed to diabetic retinopathy screening nonattendance among patients with diabetes, according to a study published in Cureus.

“In the initial stages of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, most patients do not notice any visual changes, as these can take years to develop,” Upamanyu Leo Chanda, MBBS, of New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, England, and colleagues wrote. “Regular attendance at diabetic eye screening is therefore vital to identify potentially sight-threatening diabetic retinal changes and slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy.”

To assess adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for diabetic retinopathy screening and identify factors influencing nonattendance, Chanda and colleagues conducted a single-center retrospective clinical audit at a medium-sized general practice in the U.K. with approximately 9,000 patients.

The researchers utilized the SystmOne patient database, an electronic health record system, to identify 602 patients in the diabetes register who did not attend diabetic eye screening in the last 15 and 36 months prior to Sept. 28, 2022. Individuals who did not attend diabetic eye screening for a period of three or more annual cycles were categorized as repeat nonattenders by Public Health England diabetic eye screening guidelines.

Overall, 137 patients (mean age, 60.6 years; 58.4% men) in the diabetes register did not attend diabetic eye screening within the last 15 months (77.2% uptake), and 99 did not attend within the last 36 months (83.6% uptake). These results showed uptake exceeded the 75% screening target, according to the researchers.

Next, the researchers administered a survey to every third patient who missed screening in the last 15 months (n = 21) to identify reasons for nonattendance.

The survey revealed that the most common reason for nonattendance to diabetic eye screening appointments was mental health issues (n = 7), such as depression, anxiety and paranoia.

Other reasons for nonattendance included multifactorial (n = 4), lack of awareness about diabetic eye screening (n = 3), transport difficulties (n = 2), not receiving the reminder letter (n = 2), illness (n = 2) and forgetfulness (n = 1).

The researchers proposed several interventions to increase attendance to diabetic eye screening, including telephone prompts, text message reminders and the implementation of an online patient education system for all individuals in the diabetes register.

“Despite achieving a higher diabetic eye screening uptake than the minimum target set by the National Health Service Diabetic Eye Screening Program, this audit emphasizes the need for continuous efforts to raise awareness and support patients in attending regular screening,” the researchers wrote. “Future re-audits following the implementation of the proposed interventions could help evaluate the impact of these strategies and provide further insights into optimizing diabetic retinopathy screening in primary care.”

Chanda and colleagues acknowledged several study limitations, including its small sample size and the subjective nature of the questionnaire, which prevented individuals from being able to list every reason for nonattendance.

U.S. Supreme Court Lifts Pause on the Corporate Transparency Act

Mich Chamber | Newsletter

January 24, 2025

What’s happening: In yet another turn of events, the US Supreme Court on Thursday put the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) back on the books. However, because a separate nationwide order issued by a different federal judge in Texas (Smith v. U.S. Department of the Treasury) remains in place, companies (for now) will escape the burden of having to immediately file beneficial ownership information and will not be subject to liability if they fail to file this information.

The big picture: The CTA has been subject to a myriad of legal challenges since it was passed by Congress in 2021. It was intended to make new ownership disclosures in an effort to combat financial crime

• A Texas judge issued a nationwide pause on the Corporate Transparency Act in December after finding that the financial transparency law was likely unconstitutional. The Biden administration then asked SCOTUS to overturn the lower court’s order, arguing that Congress was within its Commerce Clause authority to regulate economic activities impacting interstate commerce. The Court granted the government’s request Thursday – refusing to block enforcement – but did not explain its decision.

Why it matters: The CTA mandates that companies disclose and regularly update detailed beneficial ownership information (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). It subjects covered entities and their “beneficial owners” to vague and complex reporting requirements while putting their sensitive personal information at risk. Failure to comply can result in fines of over $590 per day, as well as felony charges and up to two years imprisonment.

• FinCEN estimates that more than 32 million entities will be affected by the new law just this year, with an additional 6 million each subsequent year as new businesses are formed. Yet as of December 1, 2024 – just one month before the year-end deadline (which ended up being paused) – FinCEN has received less than 30 percent of the required filings, highlighting the stark education gap when it comes to the compliance obligations mandated by the CTA.
• The CTA impacts domestic reporting companies, including LLCs, corporations, and other entities formed through filing with a secretary of state or a comparable office in the U.S., as well as foreign reporting companies that are registered to conduct business in the United States through filing with a secretary of state or an equivalent office.

What now: Businesses should continue to monitor this situation closely and consult with their tax attorney or tax preparer. It’s possible that the courts could pave a path for the government to move ahead with enforcement of the CTA. It’s equally possible that the courts could overturn it or that Congress could act to repeal it.

The Cigna Group Launces Actions to Drive Positive Change for Customers and Patients

— Company Implements Governance and Executive Changes to Ensure Accountability

The Cigna Group| Newsletter

February 3, 2025

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Feb. 3, 2025 – Global health company The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) today announced a new multi-year effort aimed at meaningfully transforming the experiences of the millions of people it serves.

“The health care system in America needs to be better, and we have challenged ourselves to help lead and drive systemic change,” said David M. Cordani, chairman and CEO of The Cigna Group. “We do a lot of good for many people, but we need to do better for everyone. We are committed to implementing tangible actions across our company to help drive better health outcomes and health care experiences. Today’s announcement marks the initial steps in our multi-year journey toward building a better and more sustainable model in health care.”

The Cigna Group has established five key areas of focus, and several initial specific actions, to improve the health of its customers and the value it provides:

• Easier access to care: The company will address the challenges customers face by making its processes simpler, easier and faster.
• Better support: The company will provide customers with more support and resources to navigate the health care system.
• Better value: The company will drive better value for its customers. 
• Accountability: The company will implement governance processes at the highest levels to successfully ensure positive changes.
• Transparency: The company will openly share how it is continuously improving.

Initial Actions To Drive The Cigna Group’s Commitments

The Cigna Group: To ensure alignment in priorities and greater accountability, The Cigna Group will tie its leaders’ compensation to improving the satisfaction of its customers.

Additionally, starting in early 2026, The Cigna Group will publish an annual Customer Transparency Report to make its progress toward its commitments clear. The report will include important information relating to how the company facilitates customer care, including details about its services and resolution statistics.

Cigna Healthcare: As announced separately today, Cigna Healthcare is taking the following actions:

• Expanding its team of Cigna Healthcare advocates who support customers and patients with the most challenging or complex conditions, such as cancer; these highly trained advocates will help more patients navigate every stage of their care and treatment journey
• Investing resources to help more customers and patients quickly resolve administrative needs with prior authorization and post-care claims
• Introducing an enhanced digital status tracker that patients can use for prior authorization updates
• Encouraging physicians to communicate electronically about prior authorizations and claims through Cigna Healthcare’s digital provider portal to expedite approvals and reduce error

Evernorth Health Services: Evernorth recently announced actions to address Express Scripts’ patient access and affordability and improve transparency.

Going forward, Evernorth’s standard offerings will protect patients from paying the high list price of their medications, ensuring they benefit from the lower price negotiated by Express Scripts. Additionally, patients in employer-sponsored plans will have improved financial predictability, receiving the benefit of savings negotiated by Express Scripts if they don’t already.

As part of this broader effort, the company also committed to providing an annual personalized summary to customers about how they benefit directly from the discounted prices Express Scripts negotiates and providing an annual standardized report to plan sponsors disclosing costs and pharmacy claim-level reporting.

Executive Changes to Ensure Accountability

The Cigna Group’s work to drive significant improvements for all its customers will be governed by its new Office of Excellence and Transformation. This office will partner across the organization to shape the company’s response to improve the health of the millions of customers it serves and to ensure accountability.

The office will have oversight by Dr. David Brailer, the company’s executive vice president and chief health officer and a highly experienced physician. Additionally, Chris DeRosa will assume a newly created role leading the office, reporting to Dr. Brailer. DeRosa, a longtime Cigna Healthcare leader with a deep understanding of the needs of customers and health plan sponsors, currently serves as president, U.S. Government, Cigna Healthcare. DeRosa will continue to oversee the company’s Medicare businesses through the transaction with HCSC, which we expect will close in the first quarter.

“I am inspired to work alongside our 70,000 colleagues and the Office of Excellence and Transformation to realize our commitments to better care and clinical excellence,” Dr. Brailer said. “We will lead the health care industry in how we serve our patients and customers and support the clinicians who care for them.”

More information about The Cigna Group’s commitments is available here.

About The Cigna Group

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services, or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 markets and jurisdictions and has approximately 182 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.

Check out the newest IOA classifieds here!

ODs Wanted:

Chicago IL:

OD needed 1-2 days per week (Read more)

Chicago Suburbs:

Looking for extra $$$, OD needed 1-2 days a week (Read more)

Looking for 2 optometrist in Buffalo Grove & Schaumburg offices (Read more)

Optometrist needed at privately owned practice (Read more)

Medical Optometrist opportunity with private practice in Chicagloand area (Read more)

OD needed for assistant professor, pediatrics, and vision therapy (Read more)

Central IL:

Springfield Clinic is seeking additional Optometrists to join its Eye Institute (Read more)

Southern IL:

Optometrist Needed – Part-Time Opportunity at Metro Eye Care (Read more)



Southern IL Optometrist Needed, Part-Time (Read more)

Out of State:

Optometrist needed in Door County Wisconsin (Read more)

Practices for Sale:

Practice for Sale in Rock Island County (Read more)

Northwest Suburb of Chicago Practice for Sale (Read more)

Practice for Sale in Western Illinois (Read more)

Fully- Booked Practice for Sale in Southeast Michigan Community (Read more)

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